Case Study QuantiParts B. V.

As a subsidiary of Finnish group Wärtsilä, one of the leading manufacturers of marine vessel engines and power plants, QuantiParts B.V. supplies customers all over the world with OEM components for the shipping and power generation markets.

Complete view of LOGIMAT at QuantiParts

QuantiParts B.V.: Efficient Picking and Storage of Spare Parts

As a subsidiary of Finnish group Wärtsilä, one of the leading manufacturers of marine vessel engines and power plants, QuantiParts B.V. supplies customers all over the world with OEM components for the shipping and power generation markets. At one time, up to 5.5 million small parts for over 40 different engines can be stored in the warehouse.

Project Requirements

The spare parts for marine vessel engines used to be primarily stored in conventional pallet racks. This took up a lot of space and was associated with considerable time and effort as well as frequent picking errors during the picking process. For this reason, QuantiParts decided to change its warehousing strategy and implemented a new, semi-automated storage and picking solution to manage all small spare parts for marine vessel engines, all from one warehouse covering the smallest possible area. Ergonomic item retrieval also has to be ensured to reduce the picking error rate to a minimum. An additional project requirement was that the lift module control software has to be able to communicate easily with QuantiParts' ERP system.

Goals:

  • Storage and picking solution in one system

  • Spare parts logistics: increased number of storage locations for small OEM spare parts

  • Space-saving storage of small parts

  • Expansion of storage capacities for large OEM components stored on pallets

  • Reduction in delivery times through higher picking speed

  • Minimization of the picking error rate due to individually adaptable, ergonomic picking 

SSI SCHAEFER System Solution and Components

The system solution developed by SSI SCHAEFER consists of four SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Modules, set up in pairs opposite one another. This allows the picker to easily operate four lift modules during normal operation and two at the same time at peak times. The lift modules use the entire warehouse height of 14 meters. Each SSI LOGIMAT® offers a storage volume of roughly 60 m³ and takes up approximately 13 m² of space. In order to fully exploit this storage capacity, two lift modules were equipped with 159 trays and two with 94 trays. These are fitted with 500 ELB and 1,000 EF bins from SSI SCHAEFER, which can accommodate approximately 10,000 different small spare parts. The lift module solution houses all small parts that were previously stored on pallets in one warehouse to make room for larger spare parts in the pallet racks. This increases the total capacity of the warehouse to roughly 1,500 euro pallet locations.

To ensure quick, error-free storage and retrieval processes for these small components, the control software of the lift modules was equipped with an interface developed by SSI SCHAEFER for communicating with QuantiParts' existing ERP system.

When storing the parts, the items are automatically measured and assigned to a suitable storage location. When retrieving the components, the warehouse management system transfers the order lines to the SSI LOGIMAT®, which directly controls the corresponding item trays. These are transported to the operating opening, where the employee is shown the parts to be picked on a 17-inch touch panel. In order to minimize the picking error rate and increase the picking speed, the lift modules are equipped with the LOGIPOINTER option, which indicates the items to be retrieved in the tray using a laser pointer. The combination of the LOGIWORK and LOGITILT functions allow for extremely ergonomic retrieval with a height-adjustable operating opening and a tray tilting mechanism, which eliminate the need for employees to perform physically demanding work. The LOGIFIRE option provides additional safety in the event of a fire, whereby the SSI LOGIMAT® finishes the current movement and the elevator moves to the lowest position.

SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Module – Key system figures from QuantiParts B.V.

Warehouse area

52 mof horizontal space

Number

4

Width/height

4.150 mm/14.000 mm 

Number of trays

506: 2 x lift modules with 159 trays, 2 x lift modules with 94 trays

Storage locations

10.000 

Additional components

  • LOGIPOINTER: Optical indication of the picking compartment using a laser pointer

  • LOGITILT: Tilting mechanism of the tray for ergonomic operation

  • LOGIWORK: Adjustable, operator-specific tray output height for optimizing the ergonomics

  • LOGIFIRE: If the fire alarm sounds, the current movement is finished and the elevator moves to the lowest position.

Software solution

Standard control (PLC) with customized interface for connection to the customer's ERP system


WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

"We had hardly any space left and wanted an easy way to optimize the warehouse. The four SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Modules now offer us considerably more space for our small spare parts. In addition, we have significantly increased the process speed in the warehouse. This solution is perfect for us."

Rick Minderhoud

Warehouse Manager at QuantiParts B.V.